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X. 



THE ANCIEKT CASTLES OF THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK 

 (WESTERN BARONIES). 



By THOMAS JOHNSON WESTROPP, M.A. 

 (Plates XYI.-XYIII.). 



Eead December 3, 1906. Ordered for publication December 5. 

 Published January 30, 1907. 



The present portion of the Survey of the Ancient Castles of the 

 County of Limerick^ both concludes that paper and covers that part of 

 the district most noted in later Irish history, the four parts of 

 Connello,^ the Desmonds' country. They still formed one barony in 

 1657, at the time of the great Surveys, and two, at least on the maps, 

 till 1835. They are now divided, the western portions of Upper and 

 Lower Connello being named Glenquin and Shanid after their chief 

 castles, as the Irish divisions were named after the chief tribe, the 

 Ui Chonaill Gabhra. Of the older sub-tribes, the Corcamuicheat 

 are still commemorated in Corcamohide and the Fir Tamnaige in 

 Mahoonagh, Magh Tamnaige or Tawnagh. Other old tribal divisions 

 Diay still be accurately laid down from the Desmond Surveys of 

 1 583-6. Pubblemynterquyllen, in Kilmeedy ; Obaithin or Meehan, 

 in Rathronan, td the west of Ardagh; Olybane, in Clonagh; Drynanin 



^ Principal contractions used (see also supra, p. 74) : — Ann., Annals ; B.B.L., 

 lUack Book of Limerick; B.D., Boole of Distribution; C, Castle; C. S.P.I. , Calendars, 

 Documents, and State Papers, Ireland ; C.S., Civil Survey ; D.S., Down Survey ; 

 Dep., Depositions ; Des. R., Desmond Eoll, 1583 ; Dub. Reg., Registiy of Deeds; 

 Fi., Fiants ; Inq., Inquisitions (Chan., Chancery ; Excli., Exchequer) ; Len., 

 Lenihan's History; O.S., Ordnance Survey; P.R.O.I., Public Record Office of 

 Ireland; R., Rolls; R.I. A., Royal Irish Academy; R.S.A.I., Royal Society of 

 Antiquaries of Ireland, under successive names ; S., Survey. 



2 As the Civil Survey of Connello, in all its divisions, is contained in vol. xxii., 

 we only refer to the page in this section. The Exchequer Court in 1607 expected 

 a new Survey of Munster (Equity Exch. Orders). 



R.I. A. PKOC, VOL. XXVI., SEC. c] [20] 



